Capability Development 2019 Round
In October 2019, Predator Free 2050 Limited received applications from students conducting possum, rat or mustelid fieldwork projects, particularly in urban and rural landscapes. Increased knowledge of predator ecology in these landscapes will better guide eradication attempts.
Up to five honours and post-graduate positions were made available and, so far, four students have received funding of up to $30,000 each, for operational and associated laboratory expenses.
Read more about the successful projects below.
| Title: |
Influence of previous predator control on the personality of brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) populations |
| Student: | Amelia Wilson |
| Institution: | The University of Otago |
| Brief description of research: | An investigation into the effect that predator control has on the behavioural variation of brushtail possums across different landscapes in the Otago region |
| Funded period: | 1 December 2019 – 30 November 2020 |
| Outputs: | Reports forthcoming |
| Title: |
Wellington Rats: A look at home ranges and detection probabilities |
| Student: | Henry Mackenzie |
| Institution: | Victoria University of Wellington |
| Brief description of research: | An investigation of urban rat spatial ecology in Wellington City using GPS and VHF collars |
| Funded period: | 1 December 2019 – 31 March 2020 |
| Outputs: | Evaluating GPS Tags as a Tool for Rat Monitoring in an Urban Environment: A Case Study in Wellington by Henry Mackenzie, May 2020 |
| Title: |
Landscape Genetics of Brushtail Possums in New Zealand |
| Student: | Nimeshika Pattabiraman |
| Institution: | Massey University |
| Brief description of research: | An investigation of brushtail possum population genetics, informing on dispersal rates and patterns across different landscapes |
| Funded period: | 1 December 2019 – 30 June 2021 |
| Outputs: | Paper – Pattabiraman N, Morgan-Richards M, Powlesland R, Trewick SA (2021) Unrestricted gene flow between two subspecies of translocated brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Biological Invasions 24: 247–260 |
| Title: |
Zero Density Possum Maintenance and Consequences for Competing Rats |
| Student: | Therese O’Malley |
| Institution: | The University of Auckland |
| Brief description of research: | An investigation of possum detection and removal at low densities, and their interaction with rats, within Predator Free Taranaki |
| Funded period: | 1 December 2019 – 30 November 2021 |
| Outputs: | Reports forthcoming |